The Hues Corporation

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Our Story, Our Time, The Hues Corporation

The Hues Corporation, a pop and soul trio, began in 1969, under the leadership of its founder, Wally Holmes in Santa Monica, California. The original name, “Children of Howard Hughes” – a pun on famous millionaire Howard Hughes – ran into some legal roadblocks when it came to incorporation. Since he could not legally use the millionaire’s full name, he came up with, “The Hues Corporation.”

Group members Flemming Williams, Bernard “St. Clair Lee” Henderson, and Hubert Ann Kelley began their music career performing at the Las Vegas Circus Circus Casino as an opening act for such artists as Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Nancy Sinatra and Glen Campbell.

Under contract with RCA Records by 1972, The Hues Corporation also appears as the awesomely funky soul group performing in a nightclub scene, in the groovy horror Blaxploitation movie, “Blacula.”

In 1973, their debut single “Freedom for the Stallion” hit #63 on the Billboard charts.

In 1974, the band scored a massive smash success with “Rock the Boat”; the infectiously bubbly and upbeat tune hit #1 on the Billboard charts, sold a million copies, and remains one of the first major hit disco songs from the 70s. “Rock the Boat” is the band’s lasting legacy. The exquisite pop song is incredibly hooky and has harmonies that went on for days. It lead to a new, danceable sound that became a forerunner to the disco beats that would arise soon after.

“Rock the Boat” is found on several movie soundtracks, “Roll Bounce,” “Man on the Moon,” “Lawn Dogs,” “The Devil’s Own,” “Carlito’s Way,” “The Spirit of 76,” and “The Martian.”

The song is also in M&M commercials plus episodes of the television shows; The Sopranos, The West Wing, Ed, and The Simpsons.

The follow-up songs did well on the charts as well: “Rockin Soul,” “Love Corporation” and “I Caught Your Act.”

By 1978 their recording career began to stall. In 1989, The Hues Corporation came on strong with lead singer, Wendell E. Anderson, Sr., St. Clair Lee and Teresa Brown who later left the group and was replaced by Marie Elaine Woodard. They performed on various television specials, major U.S. venues and overseas. The group appeared in a 2004 PBS “My Music Series” television program. The group would take another brief hiatus.

In 2015 the group would return to the music scene now based out of Cincinnati, OH, the hometown of Anderson. They would perform at the 40th Anniversary of Dance Fever. In September 2019, The Hues Corporation along with other national artists performed a live Saturday Night Dance Fever Disco show in Sacramento, California hosted by Denny Terrio with the Urban Guerilla Orchestra (UGO) as the backing band. They would also perform at the 2019 World’s Largest Disco in Buffalo, New York with current members, Wendell E. Anderson, Sr., Jinnerva Shelery, and Deondra Means.

The group was scheduled to perform at the Saturday Night Dance Fever Disco Show on October 30, 2021 at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, California and in New Mexico. Both events were canceled due to COVID19. As the world began to reopen, The Hues Corporation performed on the 2022 Ultimate Disco Cruise along with more than twenty other artists. The group would headline the 2022 Cincinnati Ohio's 35th Juneteenth concert. This was the first Juneteenth since the day became a national holiday. November 2022 The Hues Corporation would head to Myrtle Beach, SC to perform at The Asher Theater owned by Anderson's long-time friend, Comedian James Stephens III “The Man of A Thousand Voices” and his wife Grace.

The Hues Corporation's latest single, “Rock the Boat 4Love” is a collaboration with Master Gee of The Sugarhill Gang and Julian Johnson. It was released October 1, 2021.

The Hues Corporation had various combinations of singers over the past fifty years including Karl Russell, Tommy Brown, Kenny James, Bruce Glover, Brenna Parker, Julian Johnson, Anthony Louis, Charles White, and Victoria Lynch. As of this writing in September 2023, the status of the original members and founder follows: Flemming Williams passed away in 1998. Bernard “St. Clair Lee” Henderson passed away on March 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Wally Holmes passed away on September 1, 2021 a month before his 92 birthday in Los Angeles, California. Hubert Ann Kelley passed away on July 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

For all Business inquiries and to Book The Hues Corporation, please contact:

Wendell E. Anderson, Sr. or Sarah O. Anderson

Natty Records LLC
Cincinnati, OH 45231
Phone: (513) 800-3186
Email: nattyrecords60@gmail.com

The Hues Corporation Partial Song List

All of Me (Standard)
Almost Like Being in Love (Standard)
Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe
Cheek to Cheek (Standard)
Circles
Don’t Cost You Nothing
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Standard)
Drift Away
Everything I Miss At Home
Forget You
Freedom for the Stallion*
Groovy People
Guess Who I Saw Today
Heartbreak Hotel
How Sweet It Is
I Can’t Go For That
I Caught Your Act*
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
I Like the Way You Move
I Love Music
I Second that Emotion
I’ll Be Your Man (Original song by Wendell Anderson, Sr.)
It’s A Love Thing
It's Probably Me
Just the Two of Us
Just the Way You Are
La Bamba
Leave the Door Open
Let Me Take You There (Original song by Wendell Anderson, Sr.)
Love Corporation*
Make that Move
Maria Maria
Mighty Love
Never Too Much
New York State of Mind
Next Time (I Fall)
One In A Million You
Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Paradise
Power of Love
Remember the Time
Ride On A Rainbow
Rock Steady
Rock the Boat*
Rock the Boat 4Love*
Rockin Soul*
Rooftop Garden
So In Love
Stay with Me Tonight
Stayin’ Alive, Too Much Love, Love You Inside Out, You Should be Dancing Bee Gees Medley
Straighten Up and Fly Right (Standard)
Sweetest Taboe
Take the A Train (Standard)
Teach Me Tonight (Standard)
The Boss
Turn Your Love Around
That’s What I Like
Too Hot
Tyrone
Unforgettable (Standard) Duet
What You Won’t Do For Love
Wonderful World (Standard)